The Stanley Cup Playoffs return to the DFW Metroplex this 12 months. The Stars return to the ice tonight to tackle the Vegas Golden Knights. With one other playoff collection about to start, Blackout Dallas offers you our skilled predictions on how this collection will go together with the Vegas Golden Knights. With out additional to do, listed below are our predictions for the collection.
Whereas Vegas has a newly wholesome roster, Dallas has the depth that Vegas had final season. With their damage returns as of late, the Star’s best power will likely be a steadiness of playoff-level goaltending and roster items. With the brand new returns, Vegas may lack the road chemistry the Stars have labored onerous to domesticate over the previous a number of months. You may see it, particularly with the third line, and the way Jamie Benn has grow to be a scoring risk since Logan Stankoven was known as up from the AHL. Even the fourth line has contributed just lately with some insurance coverage objectives of their very own.
With the power to attain in several methods from completely different gamers and a mix of youth and veteran talent, the Dallas Stars have what it takes to knock the defending Stanley Cup Champs off their throne. It’s going to be a hard-fought collection, however Dallas would be the victor in 6.”
Right here we go once more. The Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights are going through one another, and Mark Stone has a superbly timed restoration for sport 1, and every little thing’s the identical. Besides… it isn’t.
The 2022-2023 Dallas Stars had been good, however the 2023-2024 Dallas Stars are higher. They completed second in the complete league. They gained the Western Convention and have a home-ice benefit in each matchup (besides in opposition to the Rangers). They’ve ahead depth unmatched by different groups. Joe Pavelski now has two(!) tenants. Chris Tanev is massively boosting the protection, Jake Oettinger discovered his groove once more, and I may fill a complete web page with how this workforce improved.
Vegas remains to be a problem. These two groups have a historical past within the playoffs, and after shedding to the workforce that gained all of it final 12 months, the Stars have one thing to show. Maintaining a degree head will likely be essential on this collection.
The playoffs all the time invite a unique degree of play, however the Stars have proven 12 months after 12 months that they’re constructed for that. Dallas can play any type of hockey, however they should management the sport the way in which they’ve been via the latter a part of the season. Maintaining management will permit them to unleash their deadly offense that cycles via all 4 traces.
This workforce has felt like a discovered household. They’ve one thing to show, and so they play for one another. It’s time, and the Stars have by no means been extra geared up to face the challenges forward.
The Dallas Stars are poised for an exhilarating playoff run, and several other important elements will form their efficiency. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this formidable workforce.
Purpose-Scoring Mastery
The Stars flaunt a powerful roster of eight or extra 20-goal scorers, with standout gamers like Ottinger main the cost. His current kind has been scintillating, boasting a 15-5 report during the last 20 video games and a powerful save share of .907. His distinctive play might be the X-factor within the postseason.
Depth and Steadiness
Regardless of the season’s challenges, the workforce has maintained outstanding consistency. Because the common season drew to a detailed, their synergy started to click on. Evgenii Dadonov’s return provides depth, and the squad’s chemistry seems to have hit its stride.
The Golden Knights’ Resurgence
On the opposing aspect, the Vegas Golden Knights are not any pushovers. Core gamers like Mark Stone, Alex Pietrangelo, and William Service are all again in motion. Nonetheless, rapid chemistry won’t materialize, doubtlessly impacting their efficiency.
Goaltending Conundrum
The Knights face a pivotal choice within the crease. Hill, with the potential to be a stable goalie, has just lately struggled, posting a 4-6 report, a 3.51 goals-against common, and an .871 save share. In the meantime, Logan Thompson has been stellar, boasting an 8-2 report, a 2.14 goals-against common, and a powerful .926 save share. The selection of beginning goalie will considerably affect the collection.
Prediction
In the end, this collection hinges on depth. Which workforce’s supporting forged will reply when it issues most? Each squads characteristic 4 or extra 20-goal scorers, however the Stars’ consistency and Dadonov’s return give them a slight edge.
From a statistical perspective, the Dallas Stars have nearly been “unfortunate” in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights this 12 months. Particularly, within the three video games this season the place Dallas went 0-1-2, they out-matched Vegas in a number of key statistical classes at 5v5 (through NaturalStatTrick):
The next stats are the one 5v5 metrics the place Dallas has been weaker than Vegas this 12 months of their matchups:
Dallas’ Excessive-Hazard Save Share in opposition to Vegas has been 0.546. Which means that within the three video games this season, Vegas has scored on roughly half of their pictures on aim from the high-danger space. Hopefully, as a part of a sport plan, Dallas can mitigate the Excessive-Hazard alternatives whereas getting well timed saves. Aside from pure objectives, Dallas has out-classed Vegas this season.
Sadly, you’ll be able to have as many anticipated objectives as you need however nonetheless want precise objectives. I really feel that, upon extra probabilities in opposition to Vegas, Dallas will enhance.
The extra instances you play a workforce, the bigger the sport pattern will get, and that’s the place the numbers will present that followers can belief. After 2-3 extra video games of Dallas vs. Vegas, we might know extra about what Dallas can do in opposition to the defending Stanley Cup champions. Whatever the new faces within the Golden Knights lineup, if the Stars can plan appropriately, push the tempo in transition, and survive the board battles, then the Dallas Stars ought to have the ability to proceed with their statistical edge and may win the collection.
It is higher to tackle a defending Stanley Cup Champion within the first spherical than within the third spherical. The Stars are taking over the Vegas Golden Knights, who eradicated them within the Western Convention Finals final season. The Stars clinched the Western Convention common season championship after forcing OT in opposition to the St. Louis Blues. Western Convention, Nonetheless, the Stars have drastically improved for the reason that finals. When you’ve got eight 20+ aim scorers in your workforce, it is onerous for an additional workforce to organize for that. With the Vegas Golden Knights getting everybody again wholesome in time for the playoffs, they may not be prepared for a way wholesome the Stars are.
Additionally, you will want protection to advance within the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Dallas Stars went out and received Chris Tanev on the commerce deadline. He is significantly helped the Stars enhance in that class. He is Jake Oettinger’s greatest buddy by clearing out individuals in entrance of the web for him. It is allowed him to see the place the puck is healthier within the Stars’ zone.
The Golden Knights will likely be rocking a brand new lineup for the primary time. They are going to seemingly have some points with line chemistry out of the gate. That can play into the Stars’ fingers since they don’t seem to be altering all their traces. With the way in which the Stars have performed just lately and have fought in opposition to some robust groups, the Golden Knights will likely be catching up. That is why I’ve the Stars in six over the Golden Knights. It is lastly time the Stars get their revenge after shedding all three video games throughout the common season.